High pollen warning: drivers can be fined £2,500 for making THIS mistake 

UK searches for ‘hayfever’ have increased 560% in the last 30 days since we’ve moved into Spring and pollen levels have increased.

The Met Office have issued a ‘high’ and ‘very high’ pollen warning this week, which may affect drivers around the country. The Highway Code states that you must not drive without due care and attention, which can result in a £2,500 fine and three or more penalty points. This includes sneezing at the wheel. 

While the symptoms of hayfever can be unpleasant, if they occur while driving, they could also put your safety at risk. From watering eyes to uncontrollable sneezing, the experts at Your Red Car have shared five helpful ways to pollen-proof your car and keep your symptoms at bay when on the road. 

1. Keep your car windows closed

It might seem hard on a spring day to have the windows down, especially as the weather gets warmer. However, keeping your windows closed will minimise pollen exposure, preventing it from travelling through air vents and into the car. When driving, the wind can also blow pollen into your vehicle, aggravating common hayfever symptoms such as sneezing and coughing. You will find that if your windows are closed for the duration of your journey, your driving experience will be more comfortable.

2. Keep your car in a garage rather than parking on the drive or on the road

Parking on your drive or on the road can allow pollen to enter the car even when it’s stationary, so, if possible, always try to keep your car in your garage. Wind gusts from trees and nearby flowers will travel up through the car and allow spores to reproduce. Keeping your car in a garage can also prevent mould and rain from interfering with hay fever symptoms. 

3. Increase car cleaning 

Although it may seem obvious, keeping both the internal and external parts of your car clean when pollen levels are high is also important to ensure your hayfever symptoms are kept at bay. 

Pollen can also sometimes be acidic, so tree pollen for example can end up damaging the car’s external paintwork. Keep on top of both internal and external cleaning.

4. Change air filters often 

If you’re cleaning your car but finding that pollen is still present, consider changing your air filters. Pollen can get stuck, and therefore clog the filters which can cause discomfort and cause bad air quality. Clean air should be able to travel through air vents easily.

5. Put excess clothes and blankets in a bag

With pollen season also comes picnic season. Be careful with blankets and clothing as pollen attached to these items can trigger symptoms and create an uncomfortable driving experience. To prevent this, make sure everything is put into a bag, so it doesn’t interfere with driving on the way home, and make sure items are washed to get rid of the pollen. 

Credit to https://www.yourredcar.co.uk/blog/how-to-pollen-proof-your-car-this-spring who supplied the above post